Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1

Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1 at a glance

Seedream 5.5 from ByteDance and Qwen Image 2.1 from Alibaba Cloud are both in the Image Generation category, available through the EmpirioLabs API.

Key differences

• Seedream 5.5 is the newer release (Nov 9, 2026); Qwen Image 2.1 was released on Oct 2, 2026.
• Capabilities listed only for Seedream 5.5: layer decomposition, interactive editing, multilingual text.
• Capabilities listed only for Qwen Image 2.1: multi image.

Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1: specs

Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1: API pricing

Live rates from the EmpirioLabs catalog for both models. Each rate card always matches what the API charges.

Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1: API parameters

Request parameters each model lists on EmpirioLabs, with the allowed values or range where one applies. A dash marks a parameter the model does not list.

Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1: limits and notes

Seedream 5.5

Modes

• Text to image
• Single or multi-image to image
• Interactive editing with coordinate or sketch markers
• Layer decomposition into a base image plus up to 99 layers, with optional text recognition

Interactive editing

Mark the region to change directly on the input image with a sketch, circle, or arrow, then describe it in the prompt. For exact placement, use coordinate tags on a 0 to 1000 normalized grid:

Place the subject from image 1 <bbox>179 283 796 986</bbox> at the position in image 2 <bbox>118 331 933 871</bbox>.

Layer decomposition

Set layer_decomposition to true with exactly one input image to split it into a base image plus up to 99 transparent PNG layers. max_images sets the most images returned, the base image included, from 2 to 100, and defaults to 30; a higher value allows a finer decomposition. Every returned image carries its stacking order as z_index, and each layer also carries its position in the base image as bounding_box.absolute and bounding_box.normalized, plus a name and a description. Scale each layer to its box when you reassemble the image. Leave the prompt empty to let the model choose the elements, or name the elements or coordinate regions to separate. Resolution accepts 1K, 1.5K, or 2K, and matches the input image when unset.

Text recognition

With text_recognition on, each regular text layer also returns text_recognition: its full text, the position of each line, and the styling of each run of text (a similar font, color, bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, shadow, and translucency). Artistic text and handwriting are not recognized.

Transparency

background defaults to auto, which lets the model decide from the prompt and output format. Transparent returns an image with an alpha channel, from text alone or from up to 10 reference images that need no alpha channel, and requires PNG output. Opaque returns an image without one. Each returned image reports its actual transparency as background. Layer decomposition does not take background, and its layers are always transparent PNG.

Limits

• One output image per request, except layer decomposition, which returns the base image plus its layers
• Up to 10 reference images, and exactly one for layer decomposition
• 1K, 1.5K, and 2K resolution tiers, or an exact size from 0.92MP to 4.62MP
• PNG or JPEG output, and layers are always PNG
• No grouped output, streaming, or web search

Billing

Each returned image bills at its own size: up to 2.61MP, which covers 1K and 1.5K, or above 2.61MP, which covers 2K. Every input image bills, the one for layer decomposition included. Layer decomposition bills every returned image, the base image and each layer, at its own size.

Content safety

Generated images pass an automated content-safety check. An image flagged as explicit is not returned. Because the image is generated before the check runs, a flagged generation is still billed.

Qwen Image 2.1

Qwen Image 2.1 combines Pro and Turbo image generation and editing in one model. Pro is selected by default, output starts at 2K, and aspect ratio starts in Auto. Turbo provides a faster, lower-cost option.

Variants

• Choose qwen-image-2.1-pro for the highest image quality and complex edits.
• Choose qwen-image-2.1-turbo for faster, lower-cost generation and routine edits.
• Choose with model_variant. Without it, the model id qwen-image-2.1-turbo runs Turbo and every other id of this model runs Pro.

Modes

• Text to image from a prompt.
• Image editing and reference-guided generation from one to ten images.
• Direct prompt extension works for generation and editing. Agent prompt extension provides deeper refinement for text-to-image requests only.

Transparent images

• Output images are PNG files. For a transparent background, set prompt_extend to false and describe the image in this form: "This is an RGBA image with transparency. A glass perfume bottle. The image has alpha channel and the background is transparent."

Output limits

• One to six output images per request.
• 1K, 2K, automatic, aspect-ratio presets, or an exact custom size.
• Exact and custom sizes stay between 512x512 and 2560x2560 pixels in total area, with an aspect ratio from 1:8 to 8:1.

Billing

• Each output image is billed at its variant's rate. Reference images are not billed.

Content safety

Generated images pass an automated content-safety check. An image flagged as explicit is not returned. Because the image is generated before the check runs, a flagged generation is still billed.

How to call Seedream 5.5 and Qwen Image 2.1

Seedream 5.5 runs through POST /v1/images/generations. The request returns a job_id right away; poll GET /v1/jobs/{job_id} until the job completes and read the output URLs from the result. Or add "sync": true to skip polling: the request stays open and returns the finished OpenAI-style image response directly, so OpenAI SDKs work as-is. Both models are called through the same endpoint. Set model to seedream-5-5 or qwen-image-2-1. Get an API key from the EmpirioLabs dashboard.

curl https://api.empiriolabs.ai/v1/images/generations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $EMPIRIOLABS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "seedream-5-5",
    "prompt": "Describe what you want Seedream 5.5 to generate."
  }'

Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1: tests and guides

Prompt tests and comparison runs that cover both models.

Guides Seedream 5.5 vs Seedream 5.0 Pro vs GPT Image 2 vs Qwen Image 2.1: three prompts We gave Seedream 5.5, Seedream 5.0 Pro, GPT Image 2 and Qwen Image 2.1 the same three prompts, one shot each: a poster...

Seedream 5.5 vs Qwen Image 2.1: common questions

What is the difference between Seedream 5.5 and Qwen Image 2.1?

Seedream 5.5 is the newer release (Nov 9, 2026); Qwen Image 2.1 was released on Oct 2, 2026. Capabilities listed only for Seedream 5.5: layer decomposition, interactive editing, multilingual text. Capabilities listed only for Qwen Image 2.1: multi image. The specs, rate cards, and parameters on this page come from the live EmpirioLabs catalog.

Which is newer, Seedream 5.5 or Qwen Image 2.1?

Seedream 5.5 is the newer release (Nov 9, 2026); Qwen Image 2.1 was released on Oct 2, 2026.

Which has the lower rate, Seedream 5.5 or Qwen Image 2.1?

The two models are priced on different units or tiers, so compare the live rate cards on this page. They always match what the API charges.

Can I switch between Seedream 5.5 and Qwen Image 2.1 without rebuilding my integration?

Yes. Both models use POST /v1/images/generations with the same EmpirioLabs API key, so most integrations switch by changing the model value. Check the parameters table on this page first if you rely on a model-specific parameter.

Can I try Seedream 5.5 and Qwen Image 2.1 in the browser before integrating?

Yes. Open each model in the EmpirioLabs playground and run the same prompt on both, with the parameters the API exposes.